Leo Durocher

From BR Bullpen

Leo Ernest Durocher (The Lip)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 10", Weight 160 lb.

• Debut October 2, 1925
• Final Game April 18, 1945
• Born July 27, 1905 in West Springfield, MA USA
• Died October 7, 1991 in Palm Springs, CA USA

Inducted into Hall of Fame in 1994

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[edit] Biographical Information

"What are we at the park for except to win? I'd trip my mother. I'd help her up, brush her off, tell her I'm sorry. But mother don't make it to third." - Leo Durocher

"I do not care if the guy is yellow or black, or if he has stripes like a zebra. I'm the manager of this team, and I say he plays. What's more, I say he can make us all rich. And if any of you cannot use the money, I will see that you are traded." - Leo Durocher, settling the issue of Dodger players refusing to associate with Jackie Robinson in 1947

Leo "The Lip" Durocher was a big name in baseball for decades, and was named to the Hall of Fame in 1994 after his death.

A weak-hitting shortstop, Durocher broke into the major leagues in 1925 at the age of 19 with the New York Yankees, and played a few seasons with the Yankees of Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig, appearing in the 1928 World Series. After some time with the Cincinnati Reds, he became part of the famous Gas House Gang with the St. Louis Cardinals in the mid 1930s, reaching the World Series again in 1934. He finished his career playing several seasons with the Brooklyn Dodgers, and started his long managerial career while still a player in 1939. During his playing days, Durocher made the All-Star team three times.

His major league playing career lasted from 1925 to 1945, while his major league managerial career was from 1939 to 1973. In spite of his long managerial career, he managed only four teams - the Dodgers from 1939 to 1946 (and part of 1948), the New York Giants from part of 1948 to 1955, the Chicago Cubs from 1966 to part of 1972, and the Houston Astros for part of 1972 and in 1973. His teams won the 1941 National League pennant, the 1951 National League pennant and the 1954 World Series (featuring a young Willie Mays), but his 1969 Chicago Cubs team had a famous fizzle. In addition to his managerial jobs, he was a Los Angeles Dodgers coach from 1961 to 1964.

As a manager, he won 2,008 games, losing 1,709, for a .540 winning percentage.

"Give me some scratching, diving, hungry ballplayers who come to kill you." - Leo Durocher

He was a very controversial figure, often described as "brash" and "abrasive". Although a light-hitting shortstop, he had an image as a tough guy. He was rumored at one point to hang out with gangsters, and was suspended in 1947 for associating with gamblers.

His autobiography is called "Nice Guys Finish Last" after a comment (paraphrased) he once made about Mel Ott as a manager.

• As a young ballplayer, Leo's roommate with the Yankees, Babe Ruth, nicknamed him "the All-American Out." Elden Auker, in his book Sleeper Cars and Flannel Uniforms, tells the story of how young Durocher stole money from the Babe, earning a bad reputation that long remained within baseball circles only.

• The first Dodger to ever get a hit in an All-Star Game.

• A story which may not be true, but one certainly may hope is: "Leo the Lip" didn't get along with umpires, and one umpire in particular he had problems with. One day, that ump had first base, and there was a close play there, when a player on Durocher's team tried to slide into the bag, and ended up bowling the umpire over. Dazed for a little bit, he was unable to make a call right away. As he started coming out of his fog, the first thing he heard was an old familiar voice saying "Well, was he safe or was he out?" Without hesitating he replied, "If that's you, Leo, he was out!"

• He had four wives, and was married to actress Laraine Day from 1947 to 1960. Day knew nothing about baseball when she met Durocher, but became a very devoted baseball fan.

• Durocher was known for the famous phase: "Nice guys finish last." The true quote, however, wasn't as snappy. He originally said of the rival New York Giants, "The nice guys are all over there. In seventh place."

• "Stick it in his ear!" was another well-known Durocher battle cry.

• He was suspended from managing during the 1947 season due to his associations with gamblers. That year, the Dodgers won the pennant.

• There is a popular story (first written by John Holway in 1954) that during a 1953 New York Giants-Japan tour, Durocher, assuming the Japanese couldn't speak English, screamed from the third base coaching box for the runner at first to steal. However, the catcher Jun Hirota, who was a Japanese-American, spoke fluent English and gunned the runner by 20 feet. This story has been debunked and Durocher had spoken to Hirota prior to the game. In fact, Leo wound up teaching Hirota how to better hide his signals.

• He was a TV commentator in the 1950's between managerial assignments.

• Durocher was friendly with the likes of Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin, and enjoyed his Hollywood connections.

• He once played himself on The Munsters, a 1960s TV comedy about a ghoulish family living in suburbia. He is there to scout Herman Munster for the Los Angeles Dodgers. At seven feet and six inches tall and 380 pounds, Munster hits shots that dwarf the best efforts of Babe Ruth. Actor Fred Gwynne played the lovable, if child-like, version of Frankenstein's monster. Ultimately, Herman stuck with his more fitting job at a cemetery.

[edit] Notable Achievements

• 3-time NL All-Star (1936, 1938 & 1940)
• Won two World Series with the New York Yankees in 1928 and the St. Louis Cardinals in 1934
• 3-time ML Manager of the Year Award (1939, 1951 & 1954)
• NL Pennants: 3 (1941, 1951 & 1954)
• Managed one World Series Champion with the New York Giants in 1954
• 100 Wins Seasons as Manager: 2 (1941 & 1942)
• Baseball Hall of Fame: Class of 1994

[edit] Related Sites

• MLB Article on Major League Tours to Japan

• Durocher at the 1988 Old Timers Game